Latest news with #InsuranceCouncilofAustralia
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Bigger, more frequent' hail for Aus cities
Younger generations of Australians are being warned to expect significantly larger and more frequent hail into the future with a new study revealing which cities are most at risk. The paper from UNSW's Dr Timothy Raupach and Dr Joanna Aldridge looked at the possible changes a 2.4 degree rise in global temperatures would have on Australian hailstorms from 2080-2100. 'Between (time periods), there were increases in seasonal hail days of 29 per cent around Sydney/Canberra and 15 per cent around Brisbane,' Dr Raupach told NewsWire. 'Mean hail size increased by 0.5mm around Melbourne, Sydney/Canberra, and Brisbane, while maximum hail size, important for damage potential, increased by 7.8mm around Melbourne and 3.9mm around Sydney/Canberra.' Dr Raupach said any hail above two centimetres in diameter was considered damaging. 'Here we're talking about very large hailstones, sort of five centimetres or even 10 centimetres,' Dr Raupach said. 'Those are kinds of hail that can punch through people's roofs and cause their roof tiles to break and then you get flooding inside the house and of course they also can damage cars and be very dangerous for people as well. 'Because the damage you get from a hailstorm correlates very closely with the size of the hailstones that are produced by that storm, it indicates that in those regions we would be looking at an increased damage risk.' Data from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) shows hail is already one of Australia's most costly natural disasters with the frozen water missiles responsible for more than 20 per cent of insurance losses in Australia from 1967 to 2023. Hail is also not currently part of the building regulations Australian constructors are expected to adhere to, it's a point Dr Raupach believes can be acted on now to strengthen our cities into the future. 'I think there's room for discussions around how they could be built in because hail already – even without the future climate forecast – causes really significant damage,' he said. 'It's a leading driver of insured losses year to year. 'So building in things like hail resilience into our building standards would be a really good way to start to strengthen our cities. And then we can also look at possible future changes as well.' Dr Raupach said the research was still in its early stages and further studies were needed to gain greater clarity and confidence in predictions. 'This is just one study, so it's looking at it from one angle. It's using one simulation and one model,' he said. 'Ideally, we'd have multiple simulations in what's called an ensemble where you have lots of different simulations and you can look at how much they agree or disagree.' For those who are confused how a rise in global temperatures equates to giant hail balls, Dr Raupach explained for every degree the atmosphere warms, it can hold 7 per cent more moisture. This added moisture means more 'fuel' for passing weather systems to draw on, when that weather system is a hail producing one it means larger and more damaging hail.
West Australian
a day ago
- Climate
- West Australian
‘Bigger, more frequent' hail forecast for Australian cities
Younger generations of Australians are being warned to expect significantly larger and more frequent hail into the future with a new study revealing which cities are most at risk. The paper from UNSW's Dr Timothy Raupach and Dr Joanna Aldridge looked at the possible changes a 2.4 degree rise in global temperatures would have on Australian hailstorms from 2080-2100. 'Between (time periods), there were increases in seasonal hail days of 29 per cent around Sydney/Canberra and 15 per cent around Brisbane,' Dr Raupach told NewsWire. 'Mean hail size increased by 0.5mm around Melbourne, Sydney/Canberra, and Brisbane, while maximum hail size, important for damage potential, increased by 7.8mm around Melbourne and 3.9mm around Sydney/Canberra.' Dr Raupach said any hail above two centimetres in diameter was considered damaging. 'Here we're talking about very large hailstones, sort of five centimetres or even 10 centimetres,' Dr Raupach said. 'Those are kinds of hail that can punch through people's roofs and cause their roof tiles to break and then you get flooding inside the house and of course they also can damage cars and be very dangerous for people as well. 'Because the damage you get from a hailstorm correlates very closely with the size of the hailstones that are produced by that storm, it indicates that in those regions we would be looking at an increased damage risk.' Data from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) shows hail is already one of Australia's most costly natural disasters with the frozen water missiles responsible for more than 20 per cent of insurance losses in Australia from 1967 to 2023. Hail is also not currently part of the building regulations Australian constructors are expected to adhere to, it's a point Dr Raupach believes can be acted on now to strengthen our cities into the future. 'I think there's room for discussions around how they could be built in because hail already – even without the future climate forecast – causes really significant damage,' he said. 'It's a leading driver of insured losses year to year. 'So building in things like hail resilience into our building standards would be a really good way to start to strengthen our cities. And then we can also look at possible future changes as well.' Dr Raupach said the research was still in its early stages and further studies were needed to gain greater clarity and confidence in predictions. 'This is just one study, so it's looking at it from one angle. It's using one simulation and one model,' he said. 'Ideally, we'd have multiple simulations in what's called an ensemble where you have lots of different simulations and you can look at how much they agree or disagree.' For those who are confused how a rise in global temperatures equates to giant hail balls, Dr Raupach explained for every degree the atmosphere warms, it can hold 7 per cent more moisture. This added moisture means more 'fuel' for passing weather systems to draw on, when that weather system is a hail producing one it means larger and more damaging hail.
The Advertiser
19-06-2025
- Climate
- The Advertiser
Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Climate is not static, nor should we be
Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert. Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm. What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds. Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes. The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up. Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being. Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be. Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures. Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says. By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes. Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks. Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate. The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities. And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO. The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia. Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag. But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis. Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging. Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now. Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert. Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm. What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds. Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes. The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up. Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being. Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be. Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures. Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says. By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes. Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks. Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate. The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities. And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO. The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia. Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag. But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis. Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging. Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now. Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert. Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm. What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds. Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes. The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up. Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being. Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be. Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures. Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says. By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes. Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks. Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate. The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities. And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO. The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia. Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag. But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis. Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging. Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now. Cyclone Alfred stirred emergency crews into action earlier this year when the tropical tempest crossed the coast just north of Brisbane, placing more than four million people in southeast Queensland and northern NSW on alert. Four years earlier, Cyclone Seroja barreled across the Western Australian coastline near Kalbarri as a category 3 storm. What these two storms have in common is both spun much further south than usual. In fact, cyclones in those regions are so uncommon that construction codes don't require buildings there to withstand cyclonic-strength wind speeds. Governments introduced these codes in the decade after Cyclone Tracy battered Darwin on Christmas Day 1974. Its ferocity killed 66 people and destroyed 80 per cent of homes. The Climate Change Authority has examined cyclones and other wild weather for the threats they pose to households. The report, Home safe: National leadership in adapting to a changing climate, finds millions of Australians face escalating risks as the planet heats up. Bushfires, floods and cyclones already cost homeowners about $4 billion a year, a tally on track to more than double by 2050 unless we act to bolster resilience. And that figure doesn't count the very real cost to people's safety and well-being. Of course, First Nations people and those arriving post-1788 have known Australia is vulnerable to natural hazards. What we are facing now is the prospect of more intense weather events, more often and in new places that we will need to prepare for. Natural hazards are becoming unnatural risks. Just as the climate is not static, nor should we be. Areas previously considered relatively safe are now experiencing these risks. As many as 650,000 properties nationwide face high risks from one or more climate hazards, with insurance cover either unavailable or unaffordable. Another 1.55 million homeowners face moderate risks that are already hiking insurance bills - adding to cost-of-living pressures. Insurers are currently processing the latest round of claims after four big flood events this year. The insured losses for flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred and the north Queensland floods alone already exceed $1.5 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia says. By 2030, more than 3 million properties face exposure to some degree of riverine flooding, and by 2050 the average cost to exposed sites will be about $45,000, our report notes. Global sea levels have risen more than 22 centimetres since 1900 and when storms hit, they are becoming more severe. Local topography and geology give us strong clues about which parts of our coastline are most exposed to these rising risks. Authorities will need to review and tighten building codes. Parts of coastal Queensland and WA not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon. This is just one practical example of the steps we can take now to make Australia more resilient in a changing climate. The Australian government can lead on a national adaptation agenda which coordinates and amplifies necessary efforts by all levels of government, businesses and communities. And there are real benefits to taking adaptation seriously. Every dollar invested in reducing climate risks pays for itself 10 times over in reduced recovery costs, according to the CSIRO. The United Kingdom and New Zealand have legislated their climate advisory bodies to report regularly on the progress and effectiveness of their nations' adaptation plans. The Climate Change Authority stands ready to take on a similar role in Australia. Some may argue that a national housing crisis is not the right time to demand greater resilience in where, what and how we build because resilience comes with a price tag. But having houses out of action for extended periods of time certainly doesn't help with a national housing crisis. Homes are the biggest financial investment most Australians will ever make. They are meant to be our sanctuaries and places of belonging. Having to demolish and rebuild damaged homes, or shift entire communities out of harm's way, will be much more expensive in the long run - and put even more pressure on stretched workforces and supply chains - than making smarter planning and investment decisions now.
Sydney Morning Herald
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
Ruth's home was destroyed. What happened next scared her more
That wasn't the end of it. Later that morning, 'a wave hit us from across the paddocks and the hills' without warning. It was later described as a one-in-5000-year flood and an 'inland tsunami'. Nielsen had just had surgery in Sydney for breast cancer, and had only returned home to pick up her Christmas presents before returning to the city for treatment. Her insurance claim was rejected the first time because her policy covered a range of natural disasters, including storm surge, storm run-off and tsunami, but not floods. 'A lot of people were in my situation. They had everything but flood written on their insurance,' she said. 'We had never flooded in this particular area where I live.' Loading The stress of the cancer treatment took its toll. Nielsen was reluctant to challenge the denial until she spoke to Legal Aid NSW experts at Eugowra showgrounds. Legal Aid is preparing for another wave of requests for assistance following the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter floods. Insurers had already received more than 6000 claims, the bulk of which relate to damage to homes, the Insurance Council of Australia said. 'Because I had those early morning photos of the water coming into my garage and around the house ... [I was told by Legal Aid], 'You've got a case because this is before the flood actually hit,' ' Nielsen said. 'This was three hours before the actual wave hit us.' She said she believed the photos and videos were crucial to the success of her second claim for insurance based on stormwater damage. Nielsen received funds from contents insurance with the assistance of Legal Aid. 'Unfortunately, we lost two people. That's a bigger loss,' she said. Nielsen has been living in a mobile pod home behind her former home since February 2023. The temporary accommodation was organised by the NSW Reconstruction Authority. 'I was very fortunate to have somewhere to come and stay. I take my hat off to the government. They are doing a brilliant job under extreme circumstances,' Nielsen said. She is awaiting confirmation from government agencies about a replacement home. Avoiding insurance pitfalls A senior disaster recovery and insurance solicitor at Legal Aid NSW, Ma'ata Solofoni, said that 'what we see following a flood is that ... people often don't have cover for flood [damage]' because of the high cost of insurance, particularly in high-risk areas. 'We've heard from people figures like $10,000, up to $60,000. Those are premiums for one year.' Importantly, however, 'storm cover is a standard inclusion in policies', and people may still be covered for damage before any floodwater entered their property. Loading Some insurers bundled an exclusion on stormwater run-off with flood cover, meaning that, if a person had opted out of flood cover, they might also have opted out of those other forms of cover. 'In Ruth's case, she didn't have that bundled exclusion,' Solofoni said. 'For those who unfortunately have that bundled exclusion, they wouldn't be covered for any sort of water damage that's entered the property from [the] ground up. 'What we saw with many of our clients was they weren't aware that's what they had opted out of.' Solofoni said time-stamped photo and video evidence could make 'the biggest difference' when a client might be up against an expensive report prepared by a hydrologist for an insurance company. She encouraged people to gather this evidence if it was safe to do so at the time.
The Age
02-06-2025
- Climate
- The Age
Ruth's home was destroyed. What happened next scared her more
That wasn't the end of it. Later that morning, 'a wave hit us from across the paddocks and the hills' without warning. It was later described as a one-in-5000-year flood and an 'inland tsunami'. Nielsen had just had surgery in Sydney for breast cancer, and had only returned home to pick up her Christmas presents before returning to the city for treatment. Her insurance claim was rejected the first time because her policy covered a range of natural disasters, including storm surge, storm run-off and tsunami, but not floods. 'A lot of people were in my situation. They had everything but flood written on their insurance,' she said. 'We had never flooded in this particular area where I live.' Loading The stress of the cancer treatment took its toll. Nielsen was reluctant to challenge the denial until she spoke to Legal Aid NSW experts at Eugowra showgrounds. Legal Aid is preparing for another wave of requests for assistance following the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter floods. Insurers had already received more than 6000 claims, the bulk of which relate to damage to homes, the Insurance Council of Australia said. 'Because I had those early morning photos of the water coming into my garage and around the house ... [I was told by Legal Aid], 'You've got a case because this is before the flood actually hit,' ' Nielsen said. 'This was three hours before the actual wave hit us.' She said she believed the photos and videos were crucial to the success of her second claim for insurance based on stormwater damage. Nielsen received funds from contents insurance with the assistance of Legal Aid. 'Unfortunately, we lost two people. That's a bigger loss,' she said. Nielsen has been living in a mobile pod home behind her former home since February 2023. The temporary accommodation was organised by the NSW Reconstruction Authority. 'I was very fortunate to have somewhere to come and stay. I take my hat off to the government. They are doing a brilliant job under extreme circumstances,' Nielsen said. She is awaiting confirmation from government agencies about a replacement home. Avoiding insurance pitfalls A senior disaster recovery and insurance solicitor at Legal Aid NSW, Ma'ata Solofoni, said that 'what we see following a flood is that ... people often don't have cover for flood [damage]' because of the high cost of insurance, particularly in high-risk areas. 'We've heard from people figures like $10,000, up to $60,000. Those are premiums for one year.' Importantly, however, 'storm cover is a standard inclusion in policies', and people may still be covered for damage before any floodwater entered their property. Loading Some insurers bundled an exclusion on stormwater run-off with flood cover, meaning that, if a person had opted out of flood cover, they might also have opted out of those other forms of cover. 'In Ruth's case, she didn't have that bundled exclusion,' Solofoni said. 'For those who unfortunately have that bundled exclusion, they wouldn't be covered for any sort of water damage that's entered the property from [the] ground up. 'What we saw with many of our clients was they weren't aware that's what they had opted out of.' Solofoni said time-stamped photo and video evidence could make 'the biggest difference' when a client might be up against an expensive report prepared by a hydrologist for an insurance company. She encouraged people to gather this evidence if it was safe to do so at the time.
